Heavy clouds devoured the dark sky, and a constant rain fell without end. Mist rose from the ground, curling through hollows that had turned into pools of thick sludge. Boots sank deep into the muck, swallowed by the weight of waterlogged earth. In the thick of the storm, a child ran—mud splashing with every step—chasing a familiar woman disappearing into the rain.0

Splat, splat—0

The world was hidden beneath the cold rain, and the distance ahead felt unreachable. Each step was small, swallowing the child's feet again and again. However, the child moved forward without hesitation. And at the very end—finally—small fingers reached out and gripped someone's hand.0

When both of their footsteps came to a stop, the child, heart trembling, slowly raised their head to meet someone's eyes—and that woman, too, returned the look toward the child.0

In that moment, fear crept into the child’s heart. The child didn’t know what the woman might say, whether she would let go of the hand or just turn and walk away. But to the child trembling in silence, the woman offered a gentle smile—and spoke in a warm and kind way.0

“... Sylvia.”0

The child—Sylvia—rushed into her mother’s arms, overwhelmed with joy. The warmth that enveloped her was so full, so real, it reached her heart and quietly melted the walls she didn’t know she’d built. Sylvia tried to hold back the tears, but in the end, they came.0

“Don’t cry, sweetie~ What’s wrong, hmm? Everything’s going to be just fine.”0

The rain no longer reached them, as one umbrella stretched above, sheltering mother and child. Beneath it, they stood—together now, and together always…0

“He’s coming, sweetie. Everything’s going to be alright.”0

At her mother’s voice, Sylvia finally opened her eyes wide.0

*...1